WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:03.279 This fall we're studying our way through the book of Colossians. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:08.480 We're asking the question: how do we live and grow with Jesus? 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:11.519 What does that life look like? 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:16.879 Our text today is Colossians 2, 6 through 23. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:18.879 And Paul gives us a clear train of thought. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:34.079 Verses 6 and 7, the call to walk in Jesus, 8 through 15, the reminder of who we are in Jesus, and then in the remaining passage, the challenge that we have to refuse to let people limit our freedom. 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:36.719 Colossians 2, 6 and 7. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:40.079 We're going to read a couple verses and make sense of it as we go. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:46.159 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him. 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:52.640 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:58.960 So point number one is this we walk freely in Christ because we are secure in Christ. 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:05.760 The reason why we have freedom in our walk with Jesus is because Jesus is actually the one who secures us. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.959 The cross and the resurrection give us our security, not our own work. 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:14.560 My second great teacher was Mrs. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:15.280 Jordan. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.159 Here's a picture of me ready for second grade. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:20.879 I mean, imagine that coming at you on the playground. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:25.359 That's an intimidating force on the playground, especially with the shores. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:29.280 I mean, with those shores, are they high enough? 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:29.920 Is the question. 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:31.599 Can I get them any higher? 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:33.519 Now, during recess, Mrs. 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:36.319 Jordan would take us out on the front lawn to play Red Rover. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:37.519 Do y'all remember Red Rover? 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:40.239 I don't think we played anymore because we broke too many arms. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:53.280 There was two lines of people facing each other, a field in between, and you held hands with the classmate beside you, and you would swing your arms and you'd say, Red Rover, Red Rover, send Matt, ride over. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:02:01.760 And the Matt, who's over there on the other side, would come bursting out of his line, and he's eyeing, like we all did, where's the weakest link, right? 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:03.519 Because you have to bust through. 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:09.520 If you bust through the other line, then you get to pick one of your classmates to go back to your line, to your team. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:11.360 And you always pick the fastest and the stronger. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:12.080 It wasn't me. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:14.719 Nobody's just like, I don't think he can break through anything. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:20.800 And so they would pick, they'd pick my buddy Kevin, is who they pick, and say, like, so Kevin would go back to the other team. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:31.280 Now, it's possible that you got up all your steam and you're, you know, and then you you but and they they they hold and they held you and you didn't bust through. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:33.039 And now you're on their team. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:34.800 Like you have to join their line. 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:47.680 And what never happened, never happened, is what never happened, you never said, you know, I realize what just happened, but I just really feel like I'm still on Barry's team. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.039 Um I understand I didn't bust through. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:56.639 I I understand this, but I just I really how I feel, like in my heart, you know. 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:00.159 Um in my heart, I feel like I'm on the other team. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:01.680 Like I really need to be on the other team. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:03.039 That never happened. 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:04.960 Doesn't matter how you feel. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:08.879 Like what just happened happened, and the truth is the truth. 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:10.159 It was objective. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:12.400 You are now on Kevin's team. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:13.280 You don't have a choice. 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:14.879 Like that's the way it was. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:19.680 Now, verse 6 here, there's this phrase, received Christ. 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:27.599 And this is the Greek wording of past perfect tense, which has a meaning like it's done. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:33.599 Like completely done, finished, nothing to add, can't be changed. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:37.280 We don't have to do it again when we feel bad. 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:41.680 We don't have to do it again when our record is not adding up. 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:46.800 If I'm not sure, if I screwed up last night, if I'm not feeling it. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:50.800 Don't have to analyze it over and over again. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:04:01.919 If you believe Christ is Lord, and you've received Christ to be your forgiveness and your relationship with God, done. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:05.039 That's why we walk freely. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:07.840 Because we are his by him. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:09.199 The truth is the truth. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:10.319 It's objective. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:14.240 We walk freely in him with him because we are secured by him. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:17.680 The truth and the freedom of the cross and the resurrection. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:21.279 Christ has rooted you, and now he is growing you. 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:29.920 And that's why we always say around here, we say, in God's grace, earning is over, even while effort is beginning. 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:34.480 It's all about him, his record, and our life is an overflow of it. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:37.680 Verse 6 says, we're going to walk in him. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:38.879 Okay, great. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:39.600 How do we do that? 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:40.639 What's the process? 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:41.600 Tell me more about this. 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:42.639 Verse 7. 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:49.920 Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:56.079 Point number two is this as our roots grow deeper in Christ, we flourish with gratitude. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:03.839 This phrase, abounding in thanksgiving, it's like a five-year-old boy on Christmas morning. 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:11.279 He comes down the stairs to see like a shiny, brand new Schwinn bicycle. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:12.480 And what does he do? 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.680 He's in the driveway in his pajamas, riding that thing. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:16.879 It's freezing cold out. 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:17.680 He doesn't care. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:22.079 He is abounding with thanksgiving because of the gift. 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:26.399 Now, here's the train of thought Paul gives us in 6 and 7. 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:33.120 Verse 6, as you received, done, finished, so walk, live. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:37.120 Verse 7, as you were rooted, be built up. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:41.600 Verse 7, as you were taught, be established in the truth. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:42.480 Now, why? 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:43.439 Where are we headed? 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:46.959 Verse 7, as to abound in thanksgiving. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:50.240 And my front yard is a huge, massive oak tree. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:50.720 Here's a picture. 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:53.519 I walked outside, took this picture on Thursday. 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:54.399 Just huge. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:57.439 And I love this oak tree. 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:00.959 And I hate this oak tree. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:03.519 Anybody else own an oak tree? 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:05.279 If you do, you know what I'm talking about. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:07.839 You love that oak tree and you hate that oak tree. 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:09.600 Because I'll fill the rest of you in. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:11.120 They don't just drop leaves in the fall. 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:11.439 Okay? 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:14.560 Like they're dropping, excuse my, excuse my length. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:16.879 Well, I just won't say the bad word, junk. 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:18.959 All over your house. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:20.639 All over it. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:22.560 All over your yard. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:24.639 Just dropping it year-round. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:25.920 Keeping you working. 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:27.040 You're out there working. 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:28.000 So you hate this tree. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:28.720 You love this tree. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:29.360 You hate this tree. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:32.720 And then it's hard to grow stuff underneath this tree because it has all these roots. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:35.040 They suck up all the water. 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:41.519 Now, an oak tree's root system can extend 90 feet beyond the edge of the tree. 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:45.839 Like my roots are all up in the Clarks and the Leps and the McGee's yard. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:48.720 Like that oak tree is just sending out roots. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.839 Here's a picture of the root system of an oak tree. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:53.040 Found that online. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:56.480 I'm learning about sinker roots and secondary roots and lateral roots. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:59.759 Now we have a taproot, and the taproot goes the deepest. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:01.920 Now think about verse 7. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.439 As you were rooted, be built up. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.240 This is imagery of a tree. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:10.959 As we root down, we flourish upward. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:16.480 The question for me this week was like, what am I tapped into for nourishment? 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:19.199 What nourishes my soul? 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:21.199 The news? 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:30.000 When it has informed you of something, when has it ever nourished our souls? 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:35.199 A 1312 Georgia victory? 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:37.680 That nourishes nothing. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:44.560 It only fuels anger in me until 1230 at night when I finally fell asleep. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:50.879 So many things that we try to pull nourishment from. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:54.160 Where is my heart rooted? 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:57.519 And is that place capable to build me up? 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:03.279 Am I abounding in thanksgiving? 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:11.600 And if that's not true for my life, maybe not condemnation on us, but grace on us. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:13.920 Maybe ask, where am I rooted? 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:16.240 Where am I pulling nourishment? 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:20.319 The commentary on this passage says something like this. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:21.360 I paraphrased it. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:24.399 Here it is, Faithful Christians are overflowing. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:28.079 To be filled with gratitude is to be filled with the Spirit of Christ. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:36.320 Christians rejoicing in this blessing of a thankful heart will have their eyes fixed upon the right person in the right place. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:40.879 Right, so another way to say, root deep into Jesus. 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:45.600 As our roots grow deeper in Christ, we flourish with gratitude. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.159 And if we're lacking gratitude, where are we rooted? 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:52.399 Colossians 2, 8 through 15. 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:53.840 This is a little bit of a read. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:55.120 Is it a lot of verses here? 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:56.399 Maybe I should have broken it up. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:00.399 I thought about that in the 915, so I was like, oh, that was maybe a mistake, a preaching mistake. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:08.480 But what we see here by reading in one section is Paul calling us, all right, you receive Christ, you're gonna walk in Christ. 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:09.679 And what does he do next? 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:11.759 He just talks about Jesus a lot. 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:17.279 Now he uses imagery of baptism and circumcision, but he is really rooting us in Jesus. 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:18.159 Verse 8. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:27.919 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:31.519 For in him the whole fullness of the deity dwells bodily. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:36.159 And you have been filled in him who is in the head, who is the head of all rule and authority. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:36.960 Verse 11. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:37.360 In him. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:39.200 I mean, are you noticing something here? 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:56.000 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God who raised him from the dead. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:10:00.799 So the same power that is at work in Jesus is at work in you. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:02.159 Verse 13. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:19.679 And you who were dead in your trespasses, in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with his legal demands. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:22.960 This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:29.679 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:38.000 And I don't hear a lot of language of like, in you, in your work, in your merit, in your ability to keep a list of rules. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:39.600 It's just over and over again. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:44.320 Paul says, You receive Christ, walk in Christ, look how much he's done for you. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:51.279 Point three is this we walk in freedom with Jesus as we remember who we are in Jesus. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:58.080 If we want more freedom in life, we're remembering more how sufficient Jesus is for us. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:06.240 Now, I know you woke up this morning, you're like, I'm gonna go to church, and I'm hoping the pastor reads a passage about circumcision, and I hope he talks about it. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.639 Like that's really what I want on Sunday morning. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:17.039 So to be technical, not crude, but to be technical, circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of the male's penis. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:20.000 Are you okay? 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:21.039 I mean, that was weird. 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:24.080 It was a little weird, a little uncomfortable. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:25.120 I heard a laugh from a child. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:26.399 He's like, Yeah, that was weird. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.679 That happened in church. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.120 Can we say that? 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:32.000 Well, I do have a picture to show you. 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.679 Okay, let's settle back now. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:47.919 So in ancient biblical times, ancient biblical times, this was performed on the male baby, the eighth day of life. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:51.200 It was a symbol of the removal of sin. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:53.360 It was a symbol of purity. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:57.919 It was a sign that these were God's people. 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:01.360 Practically speaking, it was a much healthier way of life for this baby. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:12.159 And Paul is saying in this passage, Paul's saying, that external work, actually, you're free from these external works. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:16.720 Like getting enough external works that now you are forgiven or now you are righteous. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:21.120 Like, actually, that's a work in the heart by Jesus. 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:26.080 Paul's saying you don't have to fix yourself with all the external works no longer. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:27.519 You don't have to do that. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:30.960 It's all been done for you in Jesus and you receive it. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:34.879 And Paul's point is we don't need a new religious rule or advice. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:37.039 We need a new identity. 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:40.879 Now we love to build identities. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:41.600 Right? 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:51.919 Adding a person to our life, adding a job, adding a workout, adding new leather boots, adding the Hinckley picnic boat. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:55.919 I showed you last week, and three of you, like y'all way Googled it this week. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:56.720 I know you did. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:04.320 And we just keep thinking, like, I'll build my identity if I can only get to that or gather this. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:08.320 And then we're we're quiet and it's just still us. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:12.879 Like we actually need a new self, not just a set of rules. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:16.639 Look at verses 11 and 12, where Paul sends us. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:22.080 He just keeps sending us back to Jesus, root deeper in Jesus, know more about Jesus, study Jesus. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:28.639 Verse 11, in him, verse 12, with him, with him, in him, with him, in him. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:32.720 We have fellowship with Christ in our circumcision and baptism. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:34.960 So Paul's building imagery for us here. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:40.799 Paul's saying it's about our surrender, our death into Jesus, an open-handedness. 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:42.399 We're going to surrender our lives to him. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:45.279 And in that we receive a new life. 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:52.799 And we don't need a special set of religious rules or circumstances or particular baptism. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:55.279 We have it all in Jesus. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:59.919 And then baptism becomes just this beautiful symbol for us of what's true about us. 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:07.519 That we're buried in Christ and we're raised to walk in a newness of life because of the works done in our hearts. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:10.639 Imagine how free this is, how much freedom there is to walk in this. 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:18.240 All the forgiveness you ever need is in Jesus. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:24.639 You don't have to manufacture your righteousness by being good enough or keeping enough rules. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:29.679 Imagine how freeing that would be to walk in Jesus in that way, for Jesus to be your righteousness. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:32.960 And what about your self-worth? 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:39.600 What if that was coming from a secure place like Jesus rather than work or relationship or people's approval? 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:44.080 Look at verses 13 through 15 again. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:45.039 Let's read these again. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:50.879 When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:58.000 He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of the legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us. 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:07.840 He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross, and having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:12.559 Verse 14, some versions say, having canceled the written code. 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:15.360 Paul's talking about the law. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:27.279 Today that takes form in like a Christian moralism or legalism. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:30.159 If I obey, then God will love me. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:32.960 But gospel is God loves me in Jesus. 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:36.320 Period, done, finished, past perfect tense. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:40.159 Therefore, walk in him. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:44.240 Therefore, I'm gonna try to be as godly as I can. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:48.240 One way is freeing, one way is crushing. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:58.639 And Paul says, all the rules in those ways are good, they're still a guide for us, but they no longer stand over you, condemning you, because Jesus is the fulfillment of them. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:00.559 And he took the charge away. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:01.039 Right? 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:09.679 We know the feeling of the charge because it's when you don't live up to your standard or up to God's standard and you feel the charge of condemnation. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:12.240 And Jesus took that charge away. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:21.279 Christ becomes the subject of the sentences in verses 13 through 15 as a way to emphasize that our freedom is in Jesus. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:26.240 We are not the subject of the sentence when it comes to faith. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.519 He is. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.720 We are the recipient. 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:35.360 So much of our spiritual anxiety and lack of thanksgiving or abounding in thanksgiving as we keep flipping it around. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:37.919 We keep thinking that we're the subject of the sentence. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:46.559 But all the blessings and all the relationship that we ever need with the heavenly Abba is in Jesus alone. 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:49.919 Verses 16 and 17, last couple of verses. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:55.679 Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:17:03.360 And so this is talking about they had tons of rules about what you eat and don't eat and drink and don't drink in order to be holy or pure. 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:14.240 And Paul says, hey, Jesus is our righteousness, so don't let anybody cast judgment on you, or what you eat or you drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:19.440 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:24.160 Paul is saying, just be done with other people's judgment on your life. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:24.960 Amen? 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.319 I mean, anybody else? 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:32.000 You know, yeah, that's like trying to pull approval from other people's judgment. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:43.200 The imagery of this text had me thinking how easily we move from a rebellious life to a religious life, but we never quite tap into a gospel life. 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:46.960 That in Jesus life. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:52.319 It's like going on a like a long overnight hike through the mountains. 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:56.960 Like you got a pack on, you're hiking, you went out on this walk, you're gonna enjoy it. 00:17:57.119 --> 00:18:00.640 And the rebellious life, which promises you so much, right? 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:05.039 And most rebellion is extremely fun at first, if we're just honest. 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:08.400 And then it enslaves you. 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:12.480 And your walk ends up being like a walk in shackles. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.680 You never thought it would be. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:16.319 But that's the feeling of your day-to-day life. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:18.480 Rebellion's an illusion. 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:21.920 Fun at first, but always catches us and begins to enslave us. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:25.920 So many of us give that up, and we give it up for a religious life. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.240 I'm gonna get my act together. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:30.799 I'm gonna surrender to Jesus. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:40.559 And maybe you really do have salvation in Jesus, because you've said, I want to give my life to Jesus, but you also just picked up like Christian to-do lists, but you're gonna prove yourself to God. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.720 Like you are, that's how you're gonna do it today. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:45.119 That's how you're you're gonna earn the smile of God today. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:51.759 And you're just gonna carry the weight of being worthy enough or righteous enough. 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:54.559 And that's just a toxic faith. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:58.160 That's like Jesus plus my work equals everything. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:00.559 We call that works righteousness. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:10.640 But the rebellion was so horrible that we fall for another illusion that works righteousness, which is like walking with burden. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.559 It's kind of like this image, this picture. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.079 This is like religious life. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:16.240 It's like, uh, I hope he posed for the picture. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:16.960 That didn't look fun. 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.960 I hope he was just like posing for a picture. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:19.920 That looks horrible. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.440 Doesn't that just look horrible? 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:25.839 Just the heaviness of that pack to carry that around? 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.160 Just weighing you down? 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:31.279 The walking with Christ is different. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:37.839 Will we allow someone else to carry the weight of our forgiveness? 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:41.279 Will we let someone else carry the weight of our righteousness? 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:45.200 Will we allow someone else to carry the weight of our worth? 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:49.359 Will we stop being the subject of the sentence? 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:51.759 Be willing to be the recipient. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.680 That's gospel faith. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:56.480 Jesus plus nothing equals everything. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:03.519 And that's where we root into, as we root into that, we flourish a life of gratitude and godliness. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:08.720 I think gospel life is much more like the hut to hut hiking in Switzerland. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:10.160 It's on my bucket list. 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:14.799 It is my like um, it's like 3 p.m. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:20.559 in the afternoon, and like I know I should keep working, but I just need a like a five-minute daydream. 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.079 I don't know, is it just me? 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.920 Am I the only one who does this? 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:27.839 And you just like pull your phone out and you're like hutt to hut hiking in Switzerland. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:34.319 And all they wear, so the hut to hut hike, it's it's amazing. 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:38.480 All they wear is a little light day pack. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:40.400 Usually they usually have a guide. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:43.680 They don't have to worry about getting lost or being safe or not. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:45.440 And you hike hut to hut. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:54.079 All your luggage, the weight of all your stuff, it gets transferred from chalet to chalet for you. 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.279 Right? 00:20:56.160 --> 00:21:14.319 So you wake up and you're just just free walking through the mountains, you're guided by somebody, you don't have a worry in the world, and just when you get tired, you just, you know, you cross over the crest of a mountain, you see a little chalet down there, and all your stuff's waiting for you. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:22.559 Somebody else has already handled, and you're gonna get down there, you're gonna drink wine, and you're gonna eat food, but nobody's judgment over you because Paul said that. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:26.319 Paul said, no judgment, so you're gonna go, you're gonna have a great time. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:30.880 Like that's gospel life, that sort of freedom. 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:36.400 That you're safe and you're secure and you're not alone. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:38.880 And you are walking. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:41.440 Effort is not over, earning is over. 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:42.720 So you are walking. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:45.440 You're walking with him, but you're walking in him. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:47.839 And because of that, you're secure in him. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:50.319 Because we have a helper in Jesus. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.519 That's pretty good. 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:58.160 Heavenly Father, thank you that you love us, you call us to walk with you, but you do not leave us alone. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:01.839 You both walk with us and you empower us to walk with you. 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:05.599 May our hearts abound with thanksgiving. 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:12.240 Help us even more to root into you for the nourishment that our hearts need. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:16.319 And help our lives abound with thanksgiving. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.440 In Christ's name. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.079 Amen.